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An insincere flatterer is a stock character in many literary works. Examples include Wormtongue from J. R. R. Tolkien 's The Lord of the Rings, Goneril and Regan from King Lear, and Iago from Othello. Historians and philosophers have paid attention to flattery as a problem in ethics and politics.
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‘Friends and Flatterers’ by William Shakespeareis a poem about friendships, the good kinds and the bad kinds. The speaker starts the poem by telling the listener, someone they believe needs to hear their advice, that there are people who are going to flatter them who aren’t true friends. They tell the listener that even if someone compliments you a...
‘Friends and Flatterers’ by William Shakespeare is a seven-stanza poem that is divided into sets of four lines, known as quatrains. These quatrains follow a simple rhyme scheme of AABB CCDD, and so on, changing end sounds from stanzato stanza. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter. This means that the lines contain four sets of two beats, the fi...
The meaning of this poem is that true friends are those who are supportive and reliable in times of need, not those who flatter you when they want something from you. Not everyone who is willing to compliment you is also going to be a true, strong friend in one’s time of need.
Throughout this poem, the poet makes use of several literary devices. These include but are not limited to: 1. Anaphora: can be seen when the poet repeatsthe same word or words at the beginning of multiple lines. For example, “Every” which begins stanzas one and two as well as “He” which starts lines one and two of the sixth stanza and “If” which s...
Stanza One
In the first lines of this poem, the speaker begins by stating that not everyone who flatters you is going to be around when you are in “misery,” or when you’re struggling. This is the main message of the poem. It seeks to draw the reader’s attention to the different types of people in their life, ensuring they understand the difference between flatterers and friends. The third line contains a simile. It uses “like” to compare “words” to “the wind.” Words come and go, as the wind does. This s...
Stanza Two
The speaker notes in the next lines that every person in the world will want to be “thy friend” when you are doing well. This is something that’s quickly going to come to an end when one’s “store of crowns,” or wealth/good luckruns out.
Stanza Three
In the next lines, the speaker emphasizes the point he was making about wealth in the previous lines. When one has bounty they will receive a great deal of flattering. Just as people are drawn to fame, they are drawn to fortune. It’s hard to find true friends when one is successful in life. It’s only when times go bad that you’ll see the truth of your relationships.
Readers who enjoyed this piece should also consider reading some other William Shakespeare poems. For example: 1. ‘Sonnet 1’ – introduces many of the themes which echo through the rest of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets. It speaks about beauty, virtue, self-consumption, and the passing of human life through time. 2. ‘Sonnet 116’ – is easily one of the mo...
- Female
- October 9, 1995
- Poetry Analyst And Editor
Eloquent, charming, or flattering language, esp. when used to cajole, influence, or persuade others; the action or an instance of using such language.
Feb 13, 2024 · Friends and Flatterers is a poem written by one of the most noted poets and playwrights in the history of English literature, William Shakespeare. The time when this work was released is not available or well-documented. The poem serves as a guide to us to distinguish between a real friend and a fake one as Shakespeare lists out attributes of ...
Flat characters (FLAT CARE-ihk-ters) are two-dimensional characters who are defined by a single trait or characteristic. They can often be described with a single word—such as teacher, bully, or jock —that encapsulates their personality and narrative purpose. Flat characters are usually minor characters who serve perfunctory roles.
Oct 23, 2008 · An act of flattery typically makes use of excessive commendatory language in describing the qualities or record of another person for the purpose of creating a favorable attitude in that person towards the flatterer. It contains an explicit assertion of alleged merit.
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A concise definition of Flat Character along with usage tips, a deeper explanation, and lots of examples.
